Accommodating device for a portable PC

ABSTRACT

The accommodating device for a portable PC (24), particularly for a notebook and for peripheral devices such as a printer (22) and telecommunications devices, comprises a principle power supply unit (26) which can be connected to a voltage network for generating required operating voltages for the peripheral devices from the voltage network, and a separate PC power supply unit (28) which can be connected to the voltage network for generating the required operational voltages for the PC (24). Both power supply units (26,28) are arranged underneath the PC (24). Further, a cooling air flow generator (34) generates a cooling air flow to cool the principle power supply unit (26). The PC power supply unit (28) is arranged in the cooling air flow.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an accommodating device for a portable PC,particularly for a notebook and for peripheral devices such as a printerand telecommunications devices.

Accommodating devices for personal computers (PCs) are commerciallyavailable and are particularly designed as so-called notebooks. Mostly,the accommodating device is provided in the form of a suitcase, notablya hard-shelled file case of which one half-shell accommodates theportable PC and peripheral devices, particularly a printer, andtelecommunications devices, such as a modem and a cellular phone and itsbase unit, respectively. Normally, when a PC and its peripheral devicesare to be stored, a shaped body is used which is formed as a deep-drawnfilm which is resistant to bending and is provided with deepenedportions and receptacles for the individual devices and the PC. Up tonow, for energy supply to the peripheral devices and the PC, use hasbeen made of a common power-supply unit which is arranged underneath thePC or, in other words, within the accommodating device. The power-supplyunit is operative not only for energy supply but also works as acharging unit for charging the accumulators of the PC and the peripheraldevices in as far as these are accumulator-operated, as is the case,e.g., with the printer. Practice has revealed that heat may often buildup within the accommodating device, which is caused by the PC itself andthe peripheral devices, but also by the power-supply unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an accommodating device fora portable PC and its peripheral devices wherein, even in case of thetightest possible accommodation of the PC and its peripheral devices,problems caused by overheating are precluded.

According to the invention, for solving the above object, anaccommodating device of the initially mentioned type is provided tocomprise

a principle power-supply unit connectible to the voltage network, forgenerating the required operating voltages for the peripheral devicesfrom the network voltage,

a separate PC power supply unit connectible to the voltage network, forgenerating the required operational voltages for the PC,

both of said power supply units being arranged underneath the PC, and

a cooling air flow generator for generating a cooling air flow forcooling the principle power-supply unit,

the PC power supply unit being arranged particularly in the cooling airflow.

The accommodating device according to the invention comprises aprinciple power-supply unit for generating the operating voltagesrequired for the peripheral devices from the network voltage, and aseparate PC power supply unit for generating the operational voltagesrequired for the PC. Both power-supply units can be connected by a cableto the voltage network; in this mode, the PC is not switched toaccumulator operation but is fed by the network voltage. If theaccommodating device or, more precisely, the two power supply units arenot connected to the voltage network, all devices are fed byaccumulators. Further, in the inventive accommodating device, the twopower-supply units are arranged underneath the PC. This is providedprimarily in order to save space. Further, the inventive accommodatingdevice is provided with a cooling air flow generator. This cooling airflow generator generates a cooling air flow for cooling the principlepower-supply unit. According to the invention, the PC power supply unitis arranged to be exposed to the cooling air flow. Preferably, thecooling air flow generator is provided as a blower which is suitablyaccommodated in the principle power-supply unit itself. In this case,the principle power-supply unit has an air-inlet means and an air-outletmeans.

In the inventive accommodating device, the PC and the PC power supplyunit assigned thereto are permanently supplied with fresh air by amodular air-circulating means (cooling air flow generator). This measureoffers the advantage that the waste heat of the PC is permanentlydischarged underneath the PC as soon as the PC is not operated by use ofthe accumulator but is powered by its PC power supply unit. Thereby,accumulation of heat within the accommodating device is prevented. Dueto the spacesaving accommodation of the components of the principlepower-supply unit and the large number of the connectible peripheraldevices and telecommunications devices, it is in any case advisable thatthe principle power-supply unit itself be cooled. In the inventiveaccommodating device, however, the cooling air does not only cool theprinciple power-supply unit but is guided also along the PC power supplyunit and suitably also along the bottom side of the PC facing towardsthe two power supply units. In this manner, multiple use is made of thecooling air flow for cooling.

For the arrangement of the power supply units and the PC, the exactposition of these units in the cooling air flow is of minor importance.Thus, it can be provided, for instance, that both power supply units arearranged upstream or downstream of the cooling air flow generator.Further, it is possible to arrange one power supply unit upstream andthe other one downstream of the cooling air flow generator.

Suitably, the accommodating device is provided with a bending-resistantshaped body formed particularly from a deep-drawn film. This shaped bodycomprises a plurality of accommodating portions and deepenedaccommodating recesses for the PC and the peripheral devices as well asfor the power supply units. The shaped body of the instant embodiment ofthe invention is further provided with an air inlet means arrangedunderneath the PC for air inlet into the receiving portion for the PC,and with an air outlet means arranged underneath the PC for dischargingair from the receiving portion. Suitably, these air inlet and air outletmeans are provided in that the receiving portion for the PC comprises aninterrupted receiving face for the PC, i.e. a receiving face which isnot closed continuously along its periphery, so that the air inlet meansand the air outlet means remain in the form of gap-shaped openings orpassages between the PC and the shaped body. Preferably, the air inletmeans and the air outlet means are arranged at mutually opposite sidesof the PC so that the cool air flow will extend along the bottom side ofthe PC over the width and respectively the length of the PC. Suitably,the shaped body can be inserted into one half-shell of a hard-shelledsuitcase, particularly of a file case.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, theshaped body is provided with elastic support portions for at least thenotebook and/or the printer. In this embodiment of the invention, it isnot necessarily required that the PC power supply unit be arranged inthe cooling air flow.

Suitably, an elastic cover is provided for abutment on the upper side atleast of the notebook and/or the printer which is facing away from theshaped body. Preferably, this cover is an elastic cassette and/or anelastic damping layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention will be explained in greater detailhereunder with reference to the Figures.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a hard-shelled file case in theopened condition, with a notebook and a printer arranged in the bottomhalf-shell,

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a shaped body inserted in the bottomhalf-shell of the case according to FIG. 1 for accommodating thenotebook, the printer, the power-supply units and the other peripheraldevices for the PC, as well as various telecommunication devices such asa modem etc.,

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view along the line III--III of FIG. 2, withthe notebook and the power-supply unit schematically shown inchain-dotted lines, for illustrating the cooling air flow providedunderneath the notebook,

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the case in the opened condition, and

FIG. 5 shows a sectional view in the plane V--V of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a file case 10, arranged in a lyingposition, comprising a bottom shell portion 12 and an opened top shellportion 14. The bottom shell portion 12 accommodates the shaped body 16shown in plan view in FIG. 2. This shaped body 16 comprises a pluralityof receptacles and deepened receiving recesses for various electronicdevices. It is characteristic of the shaped body 16 that it comprisestwo upper receiving portions 18,20 for a printer 22 and a PC notebook24. Formed in the shaped body 16 underneath these two receiving portions18,20 are a plurality of deepened receiving recesses for a modem, for a3.5" diskette drive, for cables, for a telephone data interface, for abase unit of a cordless phone and for the power supply units. Further,the shaped body 16 comprises receptacles for serial and parallel plugs,for network input plugs and for several office accessories, particularlyfor a stapler and for staples. For the presently file case 10 describedherein, the deepened receiving recesses 22,23 for the principlepower-supply unit (schematically illustrated at 26 in FIG. 2) and the PCpower supply unit which is schematically illustrated at 28 in FIG. 2.Both deepened receiving recesses 22,23 are formed underneath thereceiving portions 20 for the PC notebook 24. The PC notebook 24comprises an area-wise--i.e. non continuous--receiving face arrangedwithin receiving portion 20 and provided by the upper ends of foursubstantially rectangularly arranged support points formed asprojections or knubs 30. As evident from FIG. 3, the projections 30 orknubs 30 have such a height that the bottom side 32 of the PC notebook24 is arranged above the power-supply units 26,28.

As further evident from the Figures, the principle power-supply unit 26supplying the required operating voltages to the peripheral devices, isprovided with a blower 34 for generating a cooling air flow (see arrows36). Blower 34 is arranged within principle power-supply unit 26. Theprinciple power-supply unit 26 comprises an inlet means shown at 38 andan outlet means shown at 40. Inlet means 38 serves for suctional intakeof cooling air which flows through the principle power-supply unit 26and is discharged through outlet means 40 of principle power-supply unit26. As illustrated in the Figures, this cooling air will further sweepalong the PC power supply unit 28. However, the cooling air will alsosweep along the bottom side 32 of the PC notebook so as to cool also thenotebook.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the receiving face provided in themanner of projections 30 is not arranged continuously and does notextend over the complete bottom side 32 of PC notebook 24. Particularly,in the edge region of the PC notebook, a distance is provided betweenthe latter and the shaped body 16. On the shaped body 16 and that edgeof PC notebook 24 which is closest to air inlet means 38 of principlepower-supply unit 26, a passage 42 is formed which serves for airintake. On the end of shaped body 16 opposite to this air inlet 42,another passage 44 is formed between shaped body 16 and PC notebook 24,serving for discharge of the cooling air and thus functioning as anoutlet. FIG. 3 illustrates the course of the cooling air flow, whereincooling air is sucked from the exterior of bottom shell portion 12 viainlet means 38 into the receiving portion 20 underneath PC notebook 24,flows through the principle power-supply unit 26, flows out of principlepower-supply unit 26 and then will flow along PC power supply unit 28and the bottom side 32 of PC notebook 24 and finally be discharged viaoutlet 44.

Finally, another essential feature of the hard-shelled suitcase 10 for anotebook 24 with peripheral and telecommunications devices (e.g. aprinter 22) will be explained, notably the resilient and thusshock-absorbing accommodation of the devices in the suitcase 10.

For this purpose, the shaped body (deep-drawn film) 16 inserted in thebottom shell portion 12 of suitcase 10 has its support points 30provided with shock absorbers in the form of spring-elastic members 50(particularly rubber plugs) whereon the devices (notebook and printer)are supported. Said members 50 are inserted into holes of the shapedbody 16 and project in upward direction (see FIGS. 4 and 5). Insertedinto the top shell portion 12 of suitcase 10 is a paper storage cassette52 with two bins 54. An elastic band 56 is provided to prevent that thiscassette 52 unintentionally swings out of the top shell portion 12.Behind the cassette 52, an elastically resilient lining plate 58(elastic damping layer) is arranged between cassette 52 and coverportion 12.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, in the closed condition of suitcase 10, thecassette 52 rests on the devices (notebook 24 and printer 22)accommodated by shaped body 16 while being subjected to a mechanicalbias generated as a result of the elastic deformation (compressivestrain) of the plastics cassette 52 and the elastic compression oflining plate 58. Thus, the devices are supported in a resilient and thusshock-absorbing manner on the two large-surfaced sides of suitcase 10(the shock absorbers 50 on the lower side, and the cassette 52 and thelining plate 58 on the upper side). Protection of the devices fromlateral impact forces acting on the closed suitcase 10, is obtained inthat, one the one hand, the devices are arranged at distances from thelateral walls of suitcase 10 and, on the other hand, the plastic shapedbody 16 has a resilient effect in the range of these distances.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been specificallyillustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minorvariations may be made in the apparatus without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention, as defined the appended claims.

What is claimed:
 1. An accommodating device for a portable PC (24),particularly for a notebook and for peripheral devices such as a printer(22) and telecommunications devices, comprising:a principle power supplyunit (26) adapted to be connected to a voltage network for generatingrequired operating voltages for the peripheral devices, a separate PCpower supply unit (28) adapted to be connected to the voltage networkfor generating the required operational voltages for the PC (24), bothof said power supply units (26, 28) being arranged underneath the PC(24), a cooling air flow generator (34) is provided for generating acooling air flow for cooling the principle power supply unit (26), thePC power supply unit (28) is located in the cooling air flow, a shapedbody (16) is provided for accommodating the PC (24), the peripheraldevices and the two power supply units (26, 28), said shaped body (16)includes a receiving portion (20) with an interrupted, non-continuousreceiving face (30) for the PC (24) having elastic support portions (50)constructed and arranged such that, between the shaped body (16) and thePC (24), at least one air inlet means (42) remains underneath the PC(24) to allow air to enter the receiving portion (20), and air outletmeans (44) remains underneath the PC (24) for discharging air from thereceiving portion (20), and receiving recesses (22, 23) for receivingthe two power supply units (26, 28) are provided within the receivingportion (20).
 2. The accommodating device according to claim 1 whereinthe cooling air flow generator (34) is a blower.
 3. The accommodatingdevice according to claim 2 wherein the blower is accommodated in theprinciple power supply unit (26) and the principle power supply unit(26) includes an air inlet means (38) and an air outlet means (40). 4.The accommodating device according to any one of claims 1 through 3wherein the one power supply unit (28) is arranged downstream and theother power supply unit (26) is arranged upstream of the cooling airflow generator (34).
 5. The accommodating device according to any one ofclaims 1 through 3 wherein the cooling air flow generator (34) isarranged such that the cooling air flow streams along a bottom side (32)of the PC (24) facing towards the power supply units (26, 28).
 6. Theaccommodating device according to any one of claims 1 through 3 whereinthe PC (24), the two power supply units (26, 28), the cooling air flowgenerator (34) and the peripheral devices are accommodated in a case(10).
 7. The accommodating device according to any one of claims 1through 3 wherein the shaped body (16) can be inserted into a half-shell(12) of the case (10).
 8. The accommodating device according to any oneof claims 1 through 3 wherein the two power supply units (26, 28) areindividual modules.
 9. The accommodating device according to any one ofclaims 1 through 3 wherein an elastically resilient cover (52, 58) isprovided for abutment on an upper side of at least one of the PC (24)and the printer (22) which is facing away from the shaped body (16). 10.The accommodating device according to claim 9 wherein the cover (52, 58)is one of an elastic cassette (52) and an elastic damping layer (58).